Bike the Yorkshire Dales with new app

The new Yorkshire Dales National Park app is the first iPhone app produced by a UK National Park Authority. It has all the usual touristy info but also has walking, cycling and mountain biking routes, overlaid on mapping from Ordnance Survey.The app has been paid for by Go Dales!, a project run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) with funding from Sport England.

Just as the Bike Hub app is designed to get more people cycling, the YDNPA app was created to "inspire people to get active in our protected landscapes," said a statement from Go Dales!

Available on iPhone, it will also be available on Android and other devices at a later date. The app is based on two locations – Malham and Hawes – although more will follow as app updates.

The app includes points of interest to hunt for around each village, 360 degree panoramic views, and fifteen suggested walks and bike routes.

Kath Needham, the Go Dales! project officer, said: “We have created a resource to offer inspiration on the types of activities on offer in the National Park.

“Go Dales! research suggests that even though participants may have been introduced to the wonders of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, some may hesitate to return through lack of ideas about things they can do and places they can go. The app will provide a lot of answers so they can plan their visit in advance.”

Karen Griffiths, the YDNPA’s Interpretation Officer, said: “The app contains a pool of pop-up info about the National Park, concentrated around Malham and Hawes, but with some general stuff too.

“It means you can use GPS on your iPhone to explore the National Park and it will alert you to points of interest – archaeology, history, scenery, landscape.